Hawai‘i Wisdom — September 2016

Hawai‘i Wisdom — September 2016

Coconut trees are seen here at Morgan’s Ponds at Lydgate Park in Wailua. Volunteers from Friends of Kamalani and Lydgate Park have been maintaining and enhancing the public facilities at the park for more than 20 years. Some projects Kamalani Playground and Pavilion, Kamalani Kai Bridge and the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Sports Park.

He pūhi ka iʻa ʻoni i ka lani.

“The eel is a fish that moves skyward.”

Niuloahiki, a god of coconut trees, had three forms — eel, man and coconut tree, which reaches skyward. This expression can refer to Niuloahiki or to any influence that rises and becomes overwhelming. When used in hana aloha sorcery, it means that the squirming of love is like the movement of an eel. Also used in warning — “Beware of that ambitious person who will let nothing stand in his way.”

Source: ‘Ōlelo Noʻeau, by Mary Kawena Pukui

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Léo Azambuja, editor of For Kaua‘i, has won multiple journalism awards in the state of Hawai‘i, including investigative and enterprise reporting, spot news and feature writing, photojournalism and online reporting.